Mustangs leave Missouri with World Series title

The travel softball teams from Louisiana continue to handle business and bring championships back home.

The Louisiana Mustangs 08 earned a 7-1 tournament record on the way to capturing the Fastpitch America Softball Association (FASA) 14U World Series championship in Branson, Missouri July 23.

“This group of girls is really close,” said Mustangs coach Tim Stevens. “When we created the Louisiana Mustangs three years ago, the core stayed together. It was a family atmosphere. We played 14U open all year. They are all 13-year olds. We found the best competition we could play.”

The Mustangs went 2-1 in pool play and 5-0 in bracket play. Louisiana beat Mississippi Pride 2-1 in the championship game.

“It was a lot of emotions,” Stevens said. “We knew we had a great team. “All the goals we set were accomplished in that game.”

Stevens said each girl contributed to the team’s success.

“The whole lineup did their part,” he said. “It was a total team effort.”

The ladies finished their season with a 78-30-1 record overall after facing top competition around the south from Louisianan, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Goergia and more.

Louisiana Mustangs are a one-team organization, which is somewhat unique in travel softball. Most organziations have feeder teams at different age groups.

“I want to thank all the parents who believed in us,” Stevens said. “Without parents believing in us the way they did, we wouldn’t have had a team.”

Stevens said the organization officially retired the Mustang name on July 27. The team will be called Outlaws Select 08 moving forward.